Malaysian skywatchers delighted by Perseid meteor display

SHAH ALAM - Last night, Malaysian skies were graced with a breathtaking spectacle as the Perseid meteor shower lit up the heavens in a mesmerizing display.

The Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa) said that with the Moon setting at midnight, the meteor shower, which began last night, continued into the early hours of today (August 13), offering a stunning view across the country.

The celestial event captured the imagination of many Malaysians, sparking a wave of excitement on social media.

Platforms like Twitter and TikTok were abuzz with posts from netizens sharing their awe and wonder.

On TikTok, users enthusiastically shared their experiences. User @user1412 posted, “I saw it in Melaka - so beautiful, with green meteors and the biggest one around 3.30am.”

Another user, @kaii.., shared a video with the caption, “Managed to record one of many meteors - fast and random. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, hoping for more chances like this.”

User @ryuici_66 described, “I was at the beach and saw the meteor clearly—three large ones and many smaller ones.

"Grateful to have witnessed it.” Similarly, @synieya commented, “Saw it briefly with my sibling, but it disappeared in an instant.”

On Twitter, some users delved into the scientific aspects of the event. @panmeelin_ng tweeted, “At 3am, saw the meteor shower and the Milky Way. By 5am, used a telescope to view Saturn and the crescent moon, and might have spotted the ISS (International Space Station) in the sky.”

Another user posted striking photos with the caption, “Peak of the Perseids 2024 meteor shower - so many fireballs! Alhamdulillah.”

However, not everyone was fortunate enough to witness the shower. Some users expressed their disappointment online.

TikTok user @Arep._ lamented, “Nothing showed up here in Kedah - just got bitten by mosquitoes.”

@Picaa questioned, “So was it real or not? I regret not staying up!”

@salihansahar shared, “I waited until early morning, but nothing came by. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”

@AAkim52 added, “I came home late from work and was so tired I fell asleep. Missed it.”

Despite the mixed reactions, the meteor shower provided a visual feast and fostered a sense of wonder and curiosity among the public.

As the celestial event came to a close, it left behind a collective memory of the night sky ablaze with meteors, celebrating the beauty of the universe and the thrill of discovery.

Yesterday, Sinar Daily reported that the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks each August, results from debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli first identified Swift-Tuttle as the source of the Perseids in 1865.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) noted that Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 years to orbit the Sun, last reached its closest point, or perihelion, in 1992 and will not return until 2125.

As comets approach the Sun, they shed dust that forms trails around their orbits.

Earth passes through these trails annually, causing particles to collide with the atmosphere and create bright streaks in the sky.